It seems to happen every year – a holiday hangover. Not just any old hangover (the result of too much or a bad mix of booze), what I’m talking about is the Holiday Hangover- that which results from the accumulation of holiday indulgences or abruptions in routine.
The Holiday Hangover occurs when we wake up in ’09 with weight gain, fatigue, so-called “winter blues”, headaches, digestive upset, perhaps even the flu. What a way to ring in the new year!
The culprits aren’t individually that challening to the body; however, add up all their combined efforts and they mount a super challenging assault on your body’s health and well-being. Extra booze, extra food, lack of sleep, extra sweets, and lack of exercise leave every system in the body wondering which way is up (and that’s pretty important if you think about it!).
Good news, it isn’t
A) Fun holidays = Holiday Hangover or B) No Holiday Hangover = No Holiday Fun.
The Plan:
A) Immune Support: take care of your immune system early: think probiotics (read separate blog); Shroom! Yep, adding mushrooms such as shitakes to your meals boosts the immune system, considering taking a high quality mixed mushroom supplement like Host Defense by New Chapter or Mycotaki by Metagenics; get in a rainbow of fruit and vegetable colors – tomato sauce, broccoli, sweet potatoes, blueberries and red onion to name a few; spice it up – fresh herbs such as parsley and thyme, use garlic, ginger, turmeric and other spices too. Note that alcohol and sugar are suppressants to the immune system – you can have them but then you have to work to get the balance back in favor of optimal immune function.
B) Hydration: see hydration blog – at this time of year hydration is a huge factor for staying well! Remember its as much about what dehydrates as what your hydration efforts are – you have to at least break even, and the body prefers (for optimal function) to be in a hydrated state.
C) Sleep – when we are stressed (emotionally or physically) sleep helps the body recover which is essential for weight management and immune health. When we are tired, our body screams out for quick energy – that’s carbohydrates (quick, preferred energy). That can be dangerous especially during the holidays as the halls are decked with food (often treats)! Thus, fatigue becomes a significant trap for overeating or making less good quality choices.
D) Activity – I didn’t say exercise . You can trade the gym for anything that gets you moving, shaking, and lifting. Hit the dance floor, ok. Lift your nieces and nephews at the playground (and all their gear too), great fun! But, especially during the holidays, the “I’ll do it tomorrow” is not an option! No excuses. If traveling pack a light carry-on and arrive early and walk in the airport. If stuck at a less than thrilling holiday party – grab a friend or potential new lover or the host’s dog and take a walk around the block – its not rude, especially if you are friendlier because you feel better-afterall the smokers go outside all the time! Make an affair of the gym with meeting friends, taking your kids or going on a new hike or bike ride and end up with a steam or sauna trip.
E) Holiday food and drink plan: create one on your own or see a professional to help you with a personalized plan. You need strategies for going out and for the interruptions or changes to your normal routine that the holidays present. Plans help you enjoy the events featuring your favorite food or where a drink (or a few) will be enjoyed (or necessary 😉 without concern for how you will balance your eating . Still, sometimes even the best laid plans fall apart but if you’ve gone through different strategies improvising should be easy. And then, take a deep breath and note a Holiday is one day – its not Holi-week or Holi-month. And you likely won’t do enduring damage on one big day or by taking a day off of activity. Rebound gracefully and for goodness sake be nice to yourself – ’tis the season afterall.
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